Meh. Given the choice I would have picked a 2.0L Turbo 4. More power, and more efficient. Not as smooth, but oh well. Or better yet, a 2.0L TurboDiesel with enough torque to move a house while still getting 45mpg.

But my only choice here was the N52, so I will be happy with it. 28-30mpg on the highway is OK.

Regardless of what is under the hood, the driving feel is the same. I've driven an e34 518 - not enough power to pull the skin off a pudding, but it still drove 100% BMW.